DURHAM, N.H. – A generous grant from the Eleanor and Clarence Prevo Fund will launch the development of a new soccer and lacrosse facility at the University of New Hampshire and support Northeast Passage, which empowers people with disabilities to engage in athletic pursuits.

“We are enormously grateful for this generous lead funding to facilitate the construction of a soccer-lacrosse facility,” said UNH Director of Athletics Marty Scarano. “The donors share our vision that these programs can be nationally competitive and compete at the highest levels, and this facility is essential to the pursuit of those aspirations.”

The new facility, to be built adjacent to Wildcat Stadium on the site of Lewis Field, will be used by UNH athletic teams and the Oyster River Youth Association’s soccer program – making it an important bridge between the university and the wider community.

“This will allow our teams to train effectively and continue to foster opportunities for our programs to give back to the local community,” said Marc Hubbard, head men’s soccer coach at UNH. “I look forward to using this facility as another way to give back to not only the Oyster River community but to the state of New Hampshire.”

UNH’s competitive and successful Division I athletics program plays an integral part in the life of New Hampshire’s flagship university by serving as a rallying point for school pride. Upgraded athletic facilities help the department accomplish its objectives to recruit the best student-athletes in the nation, compete regionally and nationally, brand UNH Athletics to top future student-athletes, support overall student recruitment and provide a fan experience second to none in the region.

Northeast Passage, a program of UNH, creates an environment where individuals with disabilities can enjoy recreation with the same freedom of choice, quality of life and independence as their non-disabled peers. This grant will support NEP’s competitive sports programs, including power soccer, quad rugby and sled hockey.

The Eleanor and Clarence Prevo Fund is a donor-advised fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and was created by donors who wish to remain anonymous. The grant includes $800,000 for the soccer and lacrosse facility and $200,000 for Northeast Passage.

“We support the values and leadership that come from strong student athletic programs,” said one of the anonymous donors who created the fund. “Our goal is to ensure all athletes are afforded an opportunity to play and we are fortunate to be able to help UNH, NEP and the Oyster River community create facilities and support programs that share our common mission.” 

This grant is part of the university’s largest-ever fundraising campaign, Celebrate 150, to provide critical support for students, faculty, infrastructure and programs. The campaign is on track to exceed the goal of $275 million when it concludes June 30, 2018. The university’s athletic facilities and venues were identified as priorities in the campus’ master plan as well as the campaign priorities to improve recruitment, student satisfaction and overall visibility in a competitive marketplace.

For more information on how to support the soccer and lacrosse facility project, please contact the Athletics Development office at (603) 862-3149.